Treasures of Athena

Greece in-depth : Tour code # Escapade AE3 / 11-Day

11- Days- Our Aegean tours, a combination of cruise ship and hotel accommodation
An in-depth look into the Greek heartland, offer a variety of options for the perfect Aegean experience.

Athens , Olympia , Delphi, Arachova, Mykonos, Rhodes, Kusadasi ( Ephesus), Patmos

Start in Athens Weekly every Friday : Apr - Nov

Day 1 Athens Friday
Our local rep will meet you at Athens Airport & assist with your transfer to your hotel.

Day 2- Athens Markets or BYZANTINE Churches - Saturday (cBL)
Ride the new Athens Subway alongside the locals today ( always escorted with your English speaking Guide) ! We take pride in affording you this experience, entirely by public transportation, with orientation by our English-speaking representative. You'll get to tour Athens fascinating vegetable & fruit markets by subway and/ or taxi. Enjoy lunch at a charming local restaurant before we head back to the hotel . Markets days/dates are subject to change, we may have to change your program in Athens to accommodate such changes.

Or if you prefer you may choose instead to tour one of the following tours:

BYZANTINE CHURCHES
Russian Orthodox Church at Filellinon & Amalias
Athens cathedral (Mitropolis) at Mitropoleos
Kapnikarea at Ermou
Saint Theodore at Klafthmonos
They then visited the Jewelry museum (LALAOUNIS) before breaking for lunch.
They used the metro 3 times (because they wanted to).

HISTORICAL INTEREST- Museum Tour :
BENAKI MUSEUM - (closed on Tuesdays)
Covering the history of Greece from Paleolithic (pre-historic, 60000 B.C.) till present. Can easily spend over 4 hours in there. There is also a cafeteria for breaks.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTEREST
Temple of Olympian Zeus / Dionissos Theatre/ Ancient Agora/ Roman Agora

Guests who have been on the organized tour (the day before) can use the same entrance ticket to all the archaeological sites mentioned above.

Above are only suggestions , you may discuss with the guide and modify (add/subtract) according to what you are most interested in. The guide will advise you on what is feasible to cover in a half-day. Or add another half day : additional $$$ apply

Day 3 Athens (cBD) Sun
Half-day city sightseeing tour will introduce you to the most important sites, including the House of Parliament, Hadrian’s Arch, Acropolis with its outstanding monuments and museum. Remainder of day at leisure. Optional tour to Cape Sounion to visit the Temple of Poseidon and enjoy the breathtaking sunset. You may wish to take the optional Sound and Light Show on Pynx Hill across from the Acropolis,
Evening Greek dinner including Greek folk dancing is included in the rate.

DAY 4 - Monday - MYCENAE, EPIDAURUS & NAUPLIA (BD)
We set forth from Athens to tour classical Greece, passing Corinth and its steep-walled canal as we go. We stop at Mycenae, to visit among other things , the famous tomb of Agamemnon.
Mycenae : the center of ancient Mycenaean civilization (2800-1100 BC); the legendary home of the Atreides, is situated upon a small hill-top on the lower slopes of Euboea Mountain, between two of its peaks, on the road leading from the Argolic Gulf to the north (Corinth, Athens, etc.).
The site was inhabited since Neolithic times (about 4000 BC) but reached its peak during the Late Bronze Age (1350-1200 BC), giving its name to a civilization which spread throughout the Greek world.

During that period, the acropolis was surrounded by massive "cyclopean" walls, which were built in three stages (ca.1350, 1250 and 1225 BC) except on its SE flank where a steep ravine provided natural defense.
A palace was built on the summit of the hill while towards the Argolic plain lay the wall - painted "Cult Center", the main gate or "Lion Gate" and "Grave Circle A" which contained the treasures now displayed at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. On the NE side, a tunnel leading to a subterranean fountain was built in "cyclopean" masonry in around 1225 B.C.
More tombs, "Grave Circle B", and large tholoi as well as houses were discovered outside the walls. Mycenae was occupied without interruption until 468 B.C. when it was conquered by the city of Argos and its population banished. It was reoccupied in the 3rd century B.C. for a relatively short period. It had been abandoned for some time when Pausanias visited the site during the 2nd century A.D.

On to Epidaurus, site of the temple of Asclepius. On to Nauplion ( short stop ) .
We drive through the central Peloponnese , pass by Tripolis and Megalopolis on our way to Olympia, where we spend the night .

DAY 5 - Tuesday - OLYMPIA (BD)
Tour this ancient site of the Olympic games. We visit the great Temple of Zeus, one of the Wonders of the Ancient World, and tour the museum. We drive through Rion, Antirion and Nafpaktos and along the Corinthian coast on our way to Delphi,where we overnight.

DAY 6 - Wednesday - DELPHI (BD)
Tour Delphi, site of the famed oracle, at the foot of Mount Parnassus. During the Mycenaean period, the female deity of Earth was worshipped in the small settlement of Delphi. The development of the sanctuary and oracle though, began in the 8th century B.C. with the establishment of the cult of Apollo. Under the protection and administration of the Amphictyony, the sanctuary continued to be autonomous after the First Sacred War and, as a result, increased its panhellenic religious and political influence. The Pythian Games were re-organized, the sanctuary was enlarged and it was enriched with nice buildings, statues, and other offerings. In the 3rd century B.C. it came under the domination of the Aetolians and later, in 191 B.C., was conquered by the Romans. During the Roman occupation the site was sometimes plundered but was also favoured by some of the emperors. With the spread of Christianity, the sanctuary lost its religious meaning and was permanently closed down with a decree of emperor Theodosius the Great.

We tour the ruins of Delphi and its oracle, sacred to Apollo and Dionysus. In the afternoon, we drive via the lovely Kalambaka a small town situated at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora , we spend the night at Kalambaka .

DAY 7 - Thursday - ATHENS (B)
We tour Meteora , perched at the top of huge rocks which seems to be suspended in mid-air , stand ageless Monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art , Meteora is from the biggest and most important group of monasteries in Greece after those in Mount Athos. We can locate the first traces of their history from 11th c. when the first hermits settled there. The rock monasteries have been characterized by Unesco as a unique phenomenon of cultural heritage and they form one of the most important stations of cultural map of Greece. On to Athens via Trikala , Lamia , Thermopylae , visit the Leonidas Monument , and Kammena Vourla. Arrive Athens in the evening. 

Day 8 Athens, Cruise*- Mykonos (cBLD) Fri
Transfer to Piraeus for the 11:00 AM embarkation on your 3 day cruise. Arrival at the jet-set island of Mykonos at 6:00 PM. You will have the evening to stroll the narrow streets to the sculpture- like church of Paraportiani, or along the waterfront to the famous windmills, perhaps stopping at a picturesque café for an ouzo. The ship departs at 10:00 PM.

Day 9 – Rhodes (BLD) Sat
Arrive early morning and enjoy a full day on the "Island of Roses". You can explore on your own the medieval section of the old town, the Palace of the Knights of St. John, the numerous boutiques and the fashionable seaside cafes. Or, take an optional excursion to the Acropolis of Lindos. Evening departure.

Day 10–-Kusadasi (Turkey), Patmos (BLD) Sun
Arrive 7:00 AM. at Kusadasi, the popular Turkish port and gateway to the ancient city of Ephesus. Optional tour of Ephesus. Midday departure. In late afternoon, arrival at the Greek isle of Patmos. Here you can visit the Monastery of St. John where the book of Revelations was written.

Day 11– Piraeus /ATHENS/DEPARTURE (B) Mon
Morning arrival in Piraeus. Transfer to the airport . Bon Voyage

Rates per person in US$, Double Occupancy
Cabins with 2 lower beds

Tour includes:

• Hotel accommodation Athens, including tax, service charges & continental breakfast. Hotel service charges and taxes .
  Sample hotels in Athens :
  Deluxe: Divani Palace Acropolis.
  Superior First : Electra Palace.
  First Class : Stanley

• The four days standard classical tour to : Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nauplion, Olympia, and Delphi
  (Modest 3 - 4 star hotels).
  

• 4 Day Cruise from Mykonos to Greek Islands & Turkey, including all meals.

• Our representative will meet and assist you at the airport

• Transfer from Athens Airport to Hotel

• Breakfast daily at the hotel

• Port Taxes

Not included:

• International airfare .
• Shore excursions
• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance (please see our insurance brochure).
• Gratuities.
• Personal expenses, beverages, and meals not specifically listed

Combine Egypt & Athens  , or add Italy

Clothing on shore:
Look forward to warm, even hot weather with some cooler breezes at night.
Especially for shore excursions, we recommend loose, comfortable cottons or other lightweight clothing.

Some of the tours involve long bus rides and/or considerable walking, so comfortable shoes are recommended. Please bear in mind that shore excursion coaches are air conditioned and you may wish to bring a light sweater. On tours that include visits to places of worship, shorts and bare shoulders are not permitted.

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